City seamer Thornton’s sweet deal

CITY cricketer Grant Thornton has landed a three-month contract with Warwickshire alongside fellow seamer Mitchell Spencer after the pair impressed Bears chiefs.

Thornton, from Coventry, and Spencer, from Stoke-on-Trent – both 24 – have earned the short-team deals after solid showings during second XI games last season and in practice and on pre-season tour in the winter.

Thornton made his firstteam debut in the ten-wicket Royal London Cup win over Northamptonshire Steelbacks at Wantage Road last week. And first-team coach Jim Troughton is delighted to have fleshed out the seambowling department with two emerging Grant Thornton youngsters who are viewed very much as serious first-team fodder.

“Both these guys played a fair bit of second-team cricket for us last year,” he said. “Mitch was impressive and got a couple of five-fors and Grant was also playing for Berkswell and took a lot of wickets there.

“Both were then involved with us in the winter. We couldn’t offer them anything financially but they came in and trained with us really well so the contracts are a natural progression. It’s good to have them on board, especially with us having a couple of other guys coming back from longterm injuries.

“They are good lads and have done everything we asked of them. Grant had a slight fitness issue at the back end of last year when he was tired and needed to shift some weight – and he went away and did that. For someone who was not on a contract, that was impressive and showed that dedication we look for.

“Both are good characters and have fitted in really well. They are very different bowlers. Grant is tall and can get it through at mid-80s and be quite awkward. He offers something a little bit different. Mitch is more of a traditional bowler. He shapes it away but can step up the pace when he needs to and has found a yard or two in the winter.

“They are two very different bowlers and good options for Belly to have as captain.”